43 Tasty Thanksgiving Breakfast Foods to Start The Day Right

Thanksgiving can be a hectic day, whether you are hosting the main meal with family or friends or just looking for something quick to eat before heading off to your holiday destination. This means the best options for breakfast are fast, easy and hearty enough to get you through until the main event. You may also find yourself with guests in the house and adult children come home to roost for the weekend, all of whom are sure to rise hungry. 

Should you eat breakfast on Thanksgiving day? What to eat on Thanksgiving breakfast? We’ve rounded up many excellent suggestions, both for a light breakfast on the go or for an easy and quick meal at home as you put the turkey in the oven. Many require only a few minutes of prep time and setup.

Whatever your Thanksgiving menu, some of these breakfasts combine well with other Thanksgiving food ideas. What are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? Pumpkin, cranberries, nuts and apples. All of these options are full of traditional breakfast flavors incorporating favorite elements of the season. 

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• Easy Breakfast Ideas for a Busy Morning
• Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas
• Thanksgiving Breakfast Buffet Spreads

Easy Breakfast Ideas for a Busy Morning

1. Fall Flavors Muffins

Muffins are always an easy go-to breakfast for busy mornings. There are also many different recipes and takes on this popular breakfast that involves fall flavors like apple-cinnamon and pumpkin spice, always good for a quick Thanksgiving breakfast on the go. Great options include easy banana nut muffins with walnuts, pumpkin chocolate chip and apple cinnamon.

You can find more ideas by taking a cooking class, which can introduce you to baking these popular breakfast baked goods. Look for cooking classes near you or online cooking classes to take in the comfort of your own kitchen. Make a batch for easy breakfast Ideas for the week. 

2. Apple Fritters

Combine apples and batter in a deep fryer for this quick and tasty Thanksgiving breakfast that evolves into summertime fair and autumn apple orchard fare. 

3. Fruit Salad

An easy Thanksgiving breakfast if you are looking to save room for much healthier eating later in the day, a fruit salad can be an easy way to combine the sweet and tart flavors you love in one place. Incorporate your favorite fruits like grapes, mandarin oranges, pineapple, peaches, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries for a colorful fruit salad. 

4. Cranberry Bread Pudding

This spin on a holiday classic dessert adds sweet and tart cranberries to the mix. It makes a perfect Thanksgiving breakfast that can be served steaming right out of the oven. This also makes a delicious Thanksgiving side or dessert.

5. Tiramisu Stuffed French Toast

This fun Thanksgiving breakfast takes regular French toast and adds a luxurious and rich stuffing of chocolate and mascarpone cheese for its take on the classic Italian dessert. This also makes a quick easy breakfast for one.

6. Chicken Apple Sausage

You can make your own flavored sausage at home without all the additives and sodium found in many store-bought sausages. Combine ground chicken with apples and onions to create savory sausage patties perfect as part of your Thanksgiving breakfast.

7. Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

With all the frenzy of holiday mornings, you may be looking for something that can simmer away while you prepare other food for later in the day. This combo of eggs, cheese, sausage, bacon and hashbrowns is hearty and delicious and requires little work once it's in the pot. 

8. Sweet Potato Hash

This take on a breakfast classic swaps out regular potatoes with crispy sweet potato cubes, mixing them with eggs, sausage, bacon and other breakfast ingredients of your choice. This makes a great 30-minute breakfast recipe. You can also add leftovers for a day-after-Thanksgiving breakfast casserole.

9. Bacon Brunch Ring

Use pastry dough to create this easy ring combining breakfast flavors like egg, cheese, sausage and bacon. Wrap the pastry dough to create a wreath design that will wow your brunch guests.

10. Puff Pastry Almond Croissants

While rolling croissants out from scratch can be laborious, this quick alternative uses store-bought pastry dough. Spread it with almond paste and shaved almonds before popping it in the oven for all the flavors you usually find at the patisserie. 

11. Gingerbread Sheet Pan Pancake

For an easy alternative to griddle pancakes that involve much less time, spread this rich batter combining gingerbread flavors like nutmeg and cinnamon on a baking sheet and cook it in the oven. It’s great for feeding a crowd since you can cut it into squares before slathering it in maple syrup.

Easy to assemble and cook, this makes a perfect 30-minute breakfast recipe. 

12. Ham and Cheese Frittata

This easy egg dish can be made quickly on a busy morning and baked while you prep other food for later in the day. Combine eggs with fillings like cheese, sausage, bacon, onions, peppers and other great flavors for a light and flavorful Thanksgiving breakfast.  

13. Skillet Biscuits with Honey

Use your cast iron as a way to cook delicious and flaky biscuits you can make from scratch. This creates a biscuit that is soft in the middle and delightfully crisp on the edges. Slither your biscuits in flavored butter and sweet honey for an easy and quick Thanksgiving breakfast. 

14. Cranberry Scones

Scones may be easier to make from scratch than you think by combining basic baking ingredients like eggs, heavy cream, flour and sugar. Mix in some fall flavors by adding tangy cranberries. Add a bit of orange zest for a delicious flavor combo and serve with clotted cream.  

15. Monkey Bread

While there are many recipes for making this delicious pull-apart bread perfect for feeding a larger group, the perfect Thanksgiving breakfast version would involve all the common fall flavors like maple, pecans, walnuts and pumpkin.

16. Apple Cider Donuts

Stay home from the apple orchard and make these yourself. The store-bought canned biscuits coated in a mix of apple cider, butter, sugar and cinnamon and dropped in the deep fryer or baked in the oven. 

17. Pumpkin Spice Latte Pancakes

What are 3 foods that are eaten on Thanksgiving? Pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin! This Thanksgiving breakfast takes its cue from the popular coffee house drink by combining pumpkin puree and espresso with pancake batter for a perfect seasonal breakfast treat. Serve topped with whipped cream. 

18. Banana Bread

Use up those old brown bananas by turning them into delicious banana bread with the help of eggs, sugar and flour. You can also add walnuts to create a little more texture. 

19. Pumpkin Smoothie

For a great Thanksgiving breakfast on the go or a quick easy breakfast for one, add pumpkin puree to your regular smoothie recipe. It combines excellently with other fruits like blueberries or apples or mix it with chocolate protein powder or peanut butter for an excellent nutritional boost. 

20. Bourbon Caramel French Toast

Create a rich caramel sauce with a dash of whiskey or bourbon to top your favorite French toast recipe for a sweet combo that is more like dessert than breakfast, but still makes an excellent Thanksgiving breakfast. 

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas

21. Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast casseroles are already a quick and easy solution to busy holiday mornings since you can make them the day before, refrigerate overnight and just pop them in the oven the morning of.

You can make this one even tastier by incorporating frozen tots along with basic breakfast faves like eggs and sausage, as well as your favorite veggies like bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. 

22. Tiramisu Overnight Oats

Another take on this classic Italian dessert, this one involves the popular quick oatmeal-based breakfast you can refrigerate overnight and enjoy in the morning. Just add cocoa shavings, a scoop of mascarpone and sugar to your oas recipe.

23. Quiche Lorraine

Whip up an easy quiche with your favorite breakfast flavors the night before for an easy and quick Thanksgiving breakfast that looks much more involved than it really is.  

24. Biscuits & Gravy Casserole

This easy Thanksgiving breakfast casserole mixes easy canned biscuits with creamy sausage gravy for a great Thanksgiving breakfast you can make the day before and cook in the oven in the morning. You can also add a little more sweetness and fall flavor by using maple sausage instead of plain.

25. Crescent Roll Breakfast Pizza

Spread out a roll of crescent rolls as a crust and top it with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese and other favorite veggies like green peppers, green onions or tomatoes for an easy breakfast you can refrigerate overnight and cook the day off. 

26. Breakfast Cookies

Easy to grab for a Thanksgiving breakfast on the go, these cookies mix all your favorite fall flavors with a hearty oatmeal cookie base. Add some pumpkin puree for a touch of fall along with raisins, apples or cranberries. Since you can make and store these anytime, they make a great easy breakfast Idea for the week.

27. Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Use a refrigerator cheesecake filling over an easy graham cracker crust mixed with pumpkin puree for these easy cheesecakes that double as a dessert as well as a grabbable Thanksgiving breakfast. 

28. Maple Bacon Scones

These easy scones can be made the day before for a quick and easy Thanksgiving breakfast on the go. Whip up some homemade scone batter and add maple syrup and pieces of crispy bacon to the batter or add it on top. 

29. Breakfast Sliders

Create easy breakfast sandwiches for a crowd by lining a baking dish with croissants, cooked eggs, sausage, cheese and bacon and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, pop them into the oven for an easy Thanksgiving breakfast. 

30. Breakfast Stata

This layered Thanksgiving breakfast is perfectly customizable to your desired flavors and can include as many veggies, meats and cheeses along with egg and a crispy crust. 

Thanksgiving Breakfast Buffet Spreads

31. Waffle Bar

Set up a waffle iron and an array of tasty toppings like fresh fruits, jams, syrups, ice cream and other toppings and allow your breakfast guests to make their own creations. You can even incorporate fried chicken strips or pieces for a chicken and waffles option. 

32. Bagels

Bagels are always an easy and quick Thanksgiving breakfast. Set up a selection of different bagel varieties, including plain, sesame and wheat. Don’t forget the sweeter options like blueberry and cinnamon bagels. Add a selection of plain and flavored cream cheeses, as well as other spreadable options like jam and herb-infused butter.

33. Omelet Station

Omelets are always easy to make and have endless options for customization. Set up an array of fillings and toppings like various cheeses, vegetables, hashbrowns and breakfast meats and have a designated chef make the guests’ custom omelets fresh. 

34. Saturday Morning Cereal

A great way to spend Thanksgiving morning watching the Macy’s parade is to evoke the magical wonder you experienced as a kid watching it all those years ago. Set up some milk and an array of kid favorite cereals like Coco Puffs, Frosted Flakes, Trix and other childhood faves. 

35. Oatmeal Bar

A quick and hearty Thanksgiving breakfast for those chillier mornings of late November, an oatmeal bar is a perfect way to combine casual with warm and cozy. Provide a selection of stovetop or instant oatmeals, hot water and milk, alongside toppings like dried and fresh fruits, syrups, nut butter, nuts and chocolate chips. 

36. Smoothie Bar

Get a blender and set up an array of smoothie ingredients catered to every palate, including various juices, fruits, dairy options and other ways to add flavor. This quick Thanksgiving breakfast can be a great way to enjoy a light and healthy meal before the indulgences of a full Thanksgiving dinner.   

37. Breakfast Charcuterie

Arrange a large Thanksgiving charcuterie board with delicious breakfast options like donuts and other pastries, alongside breakfast meats, spreadables, cheese and other items like granola bars for a quick grabbable Thanksgiving breakfast that is as prettily arranged as it is delicious. 

38. Breakfast Pizza Buffet

Breakfast pizzas come in all varieties of flavors, from basic bacon, egg and cheese to more elaborate pies involving things like feta, roasted tomatoes and figs. Set up a selection of different options and let guests choose their favorite. 

39. Breakfast Skewers

If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch where people will be moving around and on their feet, why not turn breakfast into fancy hors d'oeuvres? Take your breakfast staples and make them smaller, like mini sausage links, mini pancakes and mini waffles. Run some toothpicks or skewers through them and serve with mimosas for a swank cocktail party feel in the A.M. You can also use this concept for your Thanksgiving appetizers. 

40. Breakfast Nachos

Get some chips and set up a nacho bar for Thanksgiving breakfast. Toppings can include traditional Mexican foods like salsa and guacamole combined with cheeses, eggs, sausage, bacon, ham and steak. This makes a great Thanksgiving buffet idea if you want some variation in cuisine between meals. 

41. Toast Bar

Slice up some baguettes or Italian bread and toast them in the oven before setting up a bar filled with topping options like avocado, herb butter, cheeses, eggs and more. You can even add sweet options like mascarpone cheese, honey, fruit and nuts. 

42. Breakfast Sandwich Bar

Get a selection of breads like croissants, English muffins, bagels and Texas toast and provide fillings for delicious breakfast sandwiches like eggs, sausage, bacon, ham and cheeses. 

43. Mini Breakfast Casseroles

Fill muffin cups or tins with all the ingredients for various Thanksgiving breakfast casseroles,, including favorites like ham, egg and cheese, sausage and gravy or french toast bakes. Guests will love the wide selection of flavor combos and the easy handheld format of this easy Thanksgiving buffet idea.

These easy Thanksgiving breakfast ideas will give you a great start and a full stomach until the main meal of the day commences.

For even more fun Thanksgiving ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!